1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

The Transboundary Agro-ecosystem Management Project for the Kagera River Basin (GEF-FAO / Kagera TAMP )

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) - Italy

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Ja

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Transformation of degraded pastureland to high quality fodder plots.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Grass and legumes are planted on degraded pasture land in fenced fodder plots within the drought prone cattle corridor of Kiruhura district. This climatic zone is characterized by short periods of intense rains followed by long dry spells. Previously, most of the pastoralists of Kiruhura led a nomadic lifestyle, moving their livestock over large areas in search of pasture and water. The combined effects of prolonged droughts and livestock movement over a defined corridor, led to increasing degradation of pastureland, reducing both the quantity and quality of pastures and worsening soil erosion. Therefore the pastoralists have settled down plant pastures instead. Grasses cultivated in the range lands of Kiruhura are Pennisetum purpureum (elephant grass), Stylosanthes guianensis (stylo), Chloris gayana. The legumes are Calliandra spp. and lablab.

Purpose of the Technology: The main objective of the technology is to improve the availability of quality forage and fodder for livestock during the dry season and to feed small ruminants. The other objective is to stop runoff which usually destroys crops, increase water infiltration during the rains and lessen the effect of floods. The benefits of fodder cropping include the protection of soil from erosion by increasing surface cover, improved soil fertility from the legumes, improved livestock production and consequently higher manure production.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Establishment involves digging, to loosen the soil and remove other grasses that would compete with the planted grasses. Digging is labor intensive and the land owner usually hires labor. The technology requires simple gardening tools such as the hand hoe for digging the soil, and a panga to clear invasive bushes, usually Lantana camara. In addition, irrigation may be necessary in the first 2 to 3 months even during the rainy season. Elephant grass is propagated vegetatively using cuttings planted in rows. Chloris gayana is propagated by broadcasting the seed. Lablab seeds are germinated by soaking in water and then planted directly in the prepared plot. Calliandra is first planted in nurseries before transplanting the seedlings.

Because of the erratic rains, irrigating the plots in the first few months of cultivation is critical.

Natural / human environment: The plots fenced off to protect the fodder crops.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Fodder cropping was introduced 2 years ago by Kagera TAMP project

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Ja

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agro-pastoralism (incl. integrated crop-livestock)

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Degradation of pasture range-lands through overgrazing; Animal movement exposes top soil to erosion.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Decrease of pasture and water during the dry season; labor to get water and good pasture is a big challenge during prolonged drought.

Cut-and-carry/ zero grazing: Yes

Improved pasture: Yes

Livestock density (if relevant):

25-50 LU /km2

Mixed: (eg agro-pastoralism, silvo-pastoralism): Yes

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Comments:

Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Grazing land: Gi: Intensive grazing/ fodder production

Grazing land: Ge: Extensive grazing land

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• area closure (stop use, support restoration)
• improved ground/ vegetation cover

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: vegetative measures, management measures

Type of vegetative measures: in blocks

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Bc: reduction of vegetation cover

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Bq: quantity / biomass decline

Main causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires) (Pasture regeneration practice of bush burning), overgrazing (Maintaining large herds as a repository of wealth), change of seasonal rainfall (Climate change), droughts (Climate change)

Secondary causes of degradation: population pressure (The cattle corridor had a very sparse, mostly nomadic population. Herders have settled down and human population density has grown quite fast in the range-lands)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

UGX

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

2500.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Preparation of fodder plots (bush clearing, digging, fencing)	dry season
2.	Nursery establishment for Calliandra	dry season
3.	Planting	Beginning of wet season
4.	Weeding	Wet season
5.	Paddocking	dry season

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Labour	ha	1.0	110.0	110.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	8.0	8.0	100.0
Plant material	Seeds	ha	1.0	25.0	25.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost/manure	ha	1.0	30.0	30.0	100.0
Construction material	Wood	ha	1.0	200.0	200.0	50.0
Construction material	Fencing wire (roll)	ha	1.0	40.0	40.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					413.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					0.17

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 18 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Weeding and fodder preparation	wet season
2.	Gap-filling/replanting	Wet season
3.	Maintenance of paddocks	2 times a year

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Labour	ha	1.0	60.0	60.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	8.0	8.0	100.0
Plant material	Seeds	ha	1.0	25.0	25.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost/manure	ha	1.0	30.0	30.0	100.0
Construction material	Wood	ha	1.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
Construction material	Fencin wire	ha	1.0	40.0	40.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					263.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					0.11

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: hand hoe, panga, rake, n/a

The calculations above were done in December 2013, for gently sloping land (< 6%), for each of 5 hectares covered by the technology.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Fencing the land is the most important factor in establishing the technology. The whole cattle corridor is an extended range land with a lot of livestock. Fodder plots constantly face destruction by freely roaming livestock and therefore fencing is a requirement. Paddocking also requires fencing to divide the farm into portions of pasture. Both materials and labor are costly.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: 1001-1500 m a.s.l. (1330 m to 1345 m a.s.l.)
Slopes on average: Gentle (Extensive area of grazing land cover both gentle and moderate slopes) and moderate (both ranked 2)

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Soil fertility: Medium
Soil drainage/infiltration: Medium
Soil water storage capacity: Medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users
Difference in the involvement of women and men: Herds and the land they graze on traditionally belongs to men. This seems to have remained the case, where women's roles are within the house and around the compound while men tend the live stock. Nonetheless, women are getting hired as labourers in the nurseries and for digging.
Population density: 10-50 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 2% - 3%
15% of the land users are rich and own 30% of the land (can afford to spend 150.00 US$ per month on farm expenses).
60% of the land users are average wealthy and own 40% of the land (can spend 500.00 annually on the farm).
Off-farm income specification: Most of the economy in Kiruhura district is farm-based. Almost everybody earns directly from their farm produce or labour.
Market orientation: Mixed (ranked 1, herders have surplus milk for sale) and subsistence (ranked 2, herders grow their own food)

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Comments:

Once herders started settling down land came under individual ownership. This development is only a few decades old. Water is still under open access.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	not known

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	well
local windstorm	well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	not known

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	well

Comments:

In preparation for extended drought, hay is made during the rainy season when there is abundant grass.

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

Comments:

Establishment costs are rather high. In the medium to longer term, the benefits are immense. Maintenance costs are reduced once the technology is established because expenditure on animal drugs goes down with decreasing parasite infestations (especially ticks) which were a result of mixing with untreated herds before.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

20

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 11-50%

Comments:

75% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

15 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: Supply of grass and legume seeds was done for the original 15 families; 5 more families are working on the technology after seeing its results from their neighbours.

25% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

5 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

Comments on spontaneous adoption: 5 farmers have adopted the technology without getting any external help

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: 25% of the farmers who adopted the technology did so without external support.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Improved income from milk with reduced expenses on acaricides and other drugs means that household income is higher How can they be sustained / enhanced? Encourage improvement of the herd by reducing the numbers and enhancing the quality through breeding and acqusition
Less time is spent on searching for pastures further afield. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Encourage the herder to put more acreage under planted pastures

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
There is enough grass and fodder for the herd during the rainy season and hay during the extended droughts. How can they be sustained / enhanced? More mobilization campaigns, grass and legume seeds and other incentives should be availed to the herders to enhance rate and extent of adoption.
Intensive grazing favours smaller, high productivity herds How can they be sustained / enhanced? Policy to improve herd quality should be pursued at government level
Planted pasture enhances responsibility to protect and maintain grazing land by the owner, thereby improving capacity to sustain soil management benefits (increased surface cover, reduced water erosion) How can they be sustained / enhanced? Community level by-laws should be enacted to compel every herder to have some planted pastures for fodder.
Improved milk and other farm product yields How can they be sustained / enhanced? Introduce marketing strategies including cooperatives to ensure that the benefits go to the farmers and not marketing middle-men.

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
There is shortage of labor to increase acreage, cut the grass and legumes from the pasture plots and prepare fodder for semi zero-grazing	Use simple machines where possible

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Establishment costs are rather high	Benefits demonstrated by the herders who adopted the technology should convince government and commercial banks that the technology is profitable. Upon this evidence alone, these institutions should avail the herders the necessary capital.
Technology is labour intensive	Productivity is even higher, therefore innovations that introduce mechanization should be encouraged (it is the normal progression of agricultural/industrial development)

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Kagera TAMP project website

Available from where? Costs?

http://www.fao.org/nr/kagera/en/